Anonymous Says It Will Attack Sony Over PS3 Hacker [VIDEO]

The hacker collective Anonymous has posted a warning to Sony that it plans an attack of some kind as revenge for the legal action taken against another hacker who modified a PlayStation 3.

Sony Computer Entertainment America filed suit against George Hotz, also known as Geohot. Hotz had released a firmware modification that allowed a Sony PlayStation 3 to run other operating systems. Sony had removed that functionality some months before. The suit is still pending.

On the Anonnews site, a press release appeared that says, You have abused the judicial system in an attempt to censor information about how your products work. You have victimized your own customers merely for possessing and sharing information, and continue to target those who seek this information. In doing so you have violated the privacy of thousands of innocent people who only sought the free distribution of information.

In the lawsuit, SCEA maintains that Hotz violated the terms of service when he logged onto the PlayStation Network. Hotz says he never did so, and further, that SCEA has to have the case heard in New Jersey, where Hotz lives, rather than in California.

Sony's interpretation and enforcement of the terms of service is the crux of the issue for Anonymous. Your corrupt business practices are indicative of a corporate philosophy that would deny consumers the right to use products they have paid for, and rightfully own, in the manner of their choosing.

Anonymous is a loose collective, with no single set of leaders as such. It is therefore difficult to say whether the note will mean any real attack -- presumably on Sony's web sites -- will take place. The us.playstation.com site appeared to be up and running as of Monday evening.

In the comments on the original Anonymous posting, some back the plan wholeheartedly while others say Hotz is seeking attention and doesn't deserve anyone's support.

Anonymous supposedly made similar threats against the Wesboro Baptist Church. Later members of the same collective accused the church of staging attacks against its own web sites, while the church said it was in fact attacked.